Hair capture device

ABSTRACT

A hair capture device and method that can catch and hold hair before it is released down a drain. The device has a plurality of protuberances extending from an outer surface of a shaped body portion to capture and retain hair strands. A suction cup on a base of the hair capture device allows the user to removably attach the device in a convenient place in the shower or at the sink.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/151,804, filed Apr. 23, 2015 the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices to prevent clogging of drainpipes, and more particularly to devices to prevent hair from clogging adrain.

When people wash, condition, or color their hair, such as whileshowering, strands of hair break or are released from their scalp andget tangled up in their hands. Currently, that released hair gets washedoff the user's hands and is carried down the drain by the running water.The hair may accumulate over time, thereby clogging the drain andotherwise making a mess.

While other inventions attempt to catch the hair as it enters the drain,some strands may still pass through. For those that are captured by thedevice, the user must still bend over and clean the captured hairs.

As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that keeps hair fromeven getting to the drain in the first instance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a hair capture device, isdisclosed which includes, a shaped body portion having a plurality ofspaced apart protuberances disposed about an outer surface of the shapedbody portion; and a base portion having a suction cup disposed on abottom surface of the base portion. The protuberances are formed of aflexible resilient material. The flexible resilient material may be apolyurethane or a neoprene. The shaped body portion is formed in theshape of one of a plant, an animal, a cartoon character, and an athleticitem. The shaped body portion and the base portion may be formed as aunitary member. Alternatively, the shaped body portion and the baseportion are formed as discrete elements. The shaped body portion and thebase portion may be releasably coupled to one another.

Other aspects of the invention include a method of preventing cloggingof a drain. The method includes the steps of providing a hair capturedevice having a shaped body portion with a plurality of spaced apartprotuberances disposed about an outer surface of the shaped bodyportion; and a base portion having a suction cup disposed on a bottomsurface of the base portion. In some aspects of the invention, themethod also includes the step of transferring a hair to the hair capturedevice. The step of transferring may include placing a hair on the haircapture device. Alternatively, the step of transferring may includewiping a hair across one or more of the plurality of spaced apartprotuberances.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section detail view of the invention along line 2-2 of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention shown with operator in anexemplary initial configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention shown with operator in anexemplary initial configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hair capturedevice and method that allows for the collection .a body having aplurality of flexible protuberances extending outwardly from a surfaceof the body. The flexible protuberances are configured to engage withhairs held on a user's hand to allow for the collection of the hairsbefore they can enter the drain.

As best seen in reference to FIG. 1, a hair capture device 10 has ashaped body portion 18 and a base portion. In the embodiment shown, theshaped body portion 18 is in the form of a pine tree or a conifer. Theshaped body portion 18 may be formed in a variety of shapes, such asanimals, cartoon characters, athletic items, and the like. The capturedevice 10 may be formed from a flexible resilient material, such apolyurethane. Preferably the selected resilient material will provide africtional component to the device surfaces so as to grip the strands ofhair, more preferably when the hair and capture device 10 are in awetted condition.

The base portion has a suction cup 14 defined on a bottom end thereof.

The suction cup 14 is adapted to secure the hair capture device 10 in asemi-fixed position to a compatible surface 16 within a bath or shower,a sink area, or wherever the device 10 may be utilized to capture hair.By way of non-limiting example, the compatible surface 16 may include atile surface, a fiberglass or similar enclosure, a window, a mirror, acounter top, enamel metal, ceramics, and the like. Preferably, thesuction cup 14 will have a diameter that is larger than the innerdiameter of the drain pipe in the area in which the hair capture device10 may be utilized. The hair capture device 10 may be formed as aunitary member or the upper portion 18 and the base portion and suctioncup 14 may be formed as discrete joinable elements.

An outer surface of the shaped body portion 18 is provided with aplurality of fingerlike protuberances 12. The protuberances 12 aredisposed in a spaced apart relation and may be arranged in rows orcolumns that may alternate in their alignment with a displaced row orcolumn interposed between an aligned row or column. The disposition ofthe protuberances 12 may also be varied over the surface of the shapedbody portion 18 depending upon the particular form of the shaped bodyportion 18, which may not allow for a uniform disposition of theprotuberances 12 due to surface contours of the body portion 18.

In a preferred embodiment, the protuberances 12 may have a diameter orthickness that is less than the length of the protuberance 12.Similarly, the protuberances 12 will have a preferred cylindrical shape.The diameter of the protuberances 12 may be between about ¼ and ½ inchin diameter. More preferably about ⅜ inches.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in use, the user would secure thehair capture device 10 onto a flat compatible surface 16 in the shower,bathtub, or sink by the suction cupped bottom portion 14. As hairs 20may be accumulated on the user's hand 18 that may come out of theperson's scalp while washing, conditioning, or coloring the hair 20 canbe picked off the person's hand 18 and placed on the hair capture device10 where the hair 20 is captured by one or more protuberances 12.Alternatively, the user can run their hand 18 over the hair capturedevice 10 protuberances 12 so that the hair 20 is captured by theprotuberances 12 and avoid being carried into the drain.

The user can leave the hair capture device 10 tree in the shower for thenext time or remove it and put it away in a cabinet or closet. When thehair 20 captured on the device 10 is dry or whenever a the user feelslike cleaning off the hair capture device 10, the hair 20 can be removedfrom engagement with the protuberances 12 and disposed of in the trash.

Alternatively, the hair capture device 10 could be inverted and placedover or into an open drain to catch hair 20 that tries to get down thedrain. The suction cup bottom 14 will prevent the hair tree from goingdown the drain.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair capture device, comprising: a shaped bodyportion having a plurality of spaced apart protuberances disposed aboutan outer surface of the shaped body portion; and a base portion having asuction cup disposed on a bottom surface of the base portion.
 2. Thehair capture device of claim 1, wherein the protuberances are formed ofa flexible resilient material.
 3. The hair capture device of claim 2,wherein the flexible resilient material is polyurethane.
 4. The haircapture device of claim 2, wherein the flexible resilient material isneoprene.
 5. The hair capture device of claim 1, wherein the shaped bodyportion is formed in the shape of one of a plant, an animal, a cartooncharacter, and an athletic item.
 6. The hair capture device of claim 4,wherein the shaped body portion and the base portion are formed aunitary member.
 7. The hair capture device of claim 4, wherein theshaped body portion and the base portion are formed as discreteelements.
 8. The hair capture device of claim 7, wherein the shaped bodyportion and the base portion are releasably coupled.
 9. A method ofpreventing clogging of a drain, comprising: providing a hair capturedevice, comprising a shaped body portion having a plurality of spacedapart protuberances disposed about an outer surface of the shaped bodyportion; and a base portion having a suction cup disposed on a bottomsurface of the base portion;
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: transferring a hair to the hair capture device.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the step of transferring comprises: placinga hair on the hair capture device.
 12. The method of claim 10, whereinthe step of transferring comprises: wiping a hair across one or more ofthe plurality of spaced apart protuberances.